Despite a lack of blog updates, I have been out birding pretty much every day throughout March and April staying loyal to the patch around Budleigh Salterton and the Lower Otter Restoration Project - LORP. Certainly an odd Spring with constant Northerlies and feeling cold with odd warm days and some early signs of migrants but then reverting to a slower pace.
LORP seems to be in a "transition" stage as the salt marsh habitat slowly develops and begins to take hold. It will be interesting to see how the reedbeds cope with the saline conditions.
Summary Highlights:
Red Kite: A single bird circling above River Otter today 27th April.
Whimbrel: My first was a bird on LORP 3rd April. Then nice to have regular sightings of at least 3-4 birds on most days throughout the second half of April.
Bar-tailed Godwit: A single winter plumaged bird at the end of March and then a bird coming into summer plumage, daily since 22nd April.
Black-tailed Godwit: Very few since the incredible sight (for here at least) of 90+ birds in December 2022/January 2023 'Pre-breach." Therefore it was nice to see a passage flock of 13 birds heading north on 13th April.
Little Ringed Plover: 2 birds first seen 21st March LORP.
Great Northern Diver: A flyover at the golf course on 13th April.
Reed Warbler: First heard singing in the reedbeds at LORP on 14th April.
Sedge Warbler: One today 27th April
Lesser Whitethroat: A bird barely singing, no doubt due to cold temperatures! Calling regularly and frequenting the blackthorn hedges 26/27 April.
Garden Warbler: Not a common bird here so great to see one singing along the River Otter 27 April.
Willow Warbler: First seen 2nd April LORP.
Common Whitethroat: First seen 14th April E Devon Golf Course.
Wheatear: First seen 13th April LORP.
Swallow: First on 7th April LORP
House Martin: First seen 9th April LORP.
Sand Martin: First seen 23rd March Bicton Gardens.
Swift: First seen 21st April LORP.
Cuckoo: Singing on East Budleigh Common 27th April. Always great to hear them on the Pebbled Heaths as they are not at all common here these days!
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| Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel on LORP |
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| Black-tailed Godwits on passage through LORP |
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| Great Northern Diver over Budleigh Golf Course |
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| Drake Goosander on the River Otter |
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| A confiding Cetti's Warbler back in March |
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| Reed Warbler on LORP |
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| A dapper male Wheatear at Stantyway Farm |
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| Red Kite LORP |
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